What is a Postpartum Doula?

Postpartum doula services provide invaluable support to new parents during the post-birth period. I provide emotional, physical, and informational assistance, helping parents navigate the challenges of recovery, newborn care, and the emotional aspects of parenthood. With my expertise dating back to 2008, I ensure that families have a smoother, more confident transition into this new phase of life. I offer in-home (Postpartum Doula Services) and virtual support (The First Year Support Program).

What is a Sleep Doula?

I have been known to wear many hats in my life, and one of them is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant. However, because I don’t work the same way other sleep consultants do, that title just doesn’t sit well with me!

Most sleep consultants focus on behavior modification, which can work well for developmentally normal children ready for sleep coaching. But what if there are underlying issues like low/overmilk supply, formula/food sensitivities, gut issues, reflux, or “colic”? Most sleep consultants have little to no training or knowledge in recognizing and/or being equipped with the resources to help with these underlying factors, which I have had as a birth and postpartum doula since 2008.

More importantly, I am and always will be a postpartum doula at heart. That means I am trained to support the whole family, not just the baby. I look at sleep holistically, addressing ALL the factors that could be impacting your little one’s sleep, including the parent’s physical, mental, and emotional health and abilities.

Not all postpartum doulas have specific infant and maternity sleep consulting training, but I do! So, I don’t consider myself a typical postpartum doula or sleep consultant. I provide a unique blend of support that helps families find the perfect balance between taking care of themselves and supporting their baby’s need for sleep to grow and thrive (and not cry all day!).

How does “The First Year Support Program” differ from traditional postpartum doula support?

Traditional postpartum doula care includes having a postpartum doula come to your home to provide support, and it is paid hourly. This support is virtual, so I can provide all the support I usually do except in-home tasks with short and long term packages available at a MUCH lower total cost. Most postpartum doulas require a 4-6 week commitment, which can run you $1,000’s. I’ve found fantastic success in equipping parents with the education, practical tools, and confidence they need to navigate this journey without in-home care.

Every family has unique needs, but some things I can assist with are the following: advice on infant and parent sleep patterns, breastfeeding/bottle feeding support, recommendations for birthing person’s recovery, guidance on newborn care, recognizing and responding to postpartum mood disorders, providing referrals and resources within the family's community, suggestions on household management and meal preparation (keeping cultural/religious traditions and recovery needs in mind!), suggestions on managing siblings with a newborn and baby product reviews and recommendations.

Why are you offering virtual services?

EVERYONE DESERVES SUPPORT POSTPARTUM!!! I have been passionate about birth and postpartum and have been working as a professional doula since 2008. I passionately believe ALL families should have access to postpartum support, and I have spent my career trying to find a way to provide that access to families who can’t afford in-home care.

Postpartum Doulas charge anywhere from $40-75 PER HOUR in the Seattle/Tacoma area where I live. I am a unique provider who primarily educates and supports you in learning how to care for yourself in the postpartum recovery (physically, mentally, and emotionally) and your newborn, as well as supports, guides, and enhances your parenting experience. My focus is on the whole family in ALL aspects. Nothing is off-limits with me!

That said, I really wanted to provide an accessible option for all families because I understand babies come with many costs. My goal is to get your family to a place of recovery, confidence, and calm as quickly as possible. The faster you feel confident in your parenting, the sooner I can help more families!

What do you mean by emotional support?

I aim to provide a non-judgmental space to vent, cry, share your wins, and make baby steps toward recovery when everything is changing and can feel overwhelming. I am a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and a non-judgmental space to help you process your new adventure. I can help you process your birthing experience, normalize your experience of becoming a parent, and navigate any bumps in the road that may come up. The road to parenthood is rarely an easy, smooth one, so I am here to hold your hand and support you alongside you while we figure this out together.

What type of baby care skills can you help me with?

• Essential baby care skills, including comforting techniques, bathing, diapering (both cloth and disposable), swaddling, etc.

• Various feeding methods, nursing, bottle feeding, burping, pumping, formula feeding, and introducing solids, including baby-led weaning

• Education on normal infant behavior in each age and stage of the first year.

What type of parenting support do you provide?

• Establishing boundaries with self, partner, family, friends, and the outside world.

• Transitioning into parenthood and all the changes that come along with it.

• Practical household management, such as providing ideas for organizing home and baby care systems for efficiency.

• Managing and reframing expectations for parenting, postpartum, and infant care.